2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet Lets You Do 186 MPH with the Top Down

There’s just something special about top-down motoring, especially when you have a high-performance V-8 to motivate your convertible. At the New York auto show, Mercedes-AMG is upping the ante on its C-Class Cabriolet with a new C63 version that promises as much as 186 mph of hair-rustling fun.
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet follows the same basic strategy as the sedan and coupe versions. There’s a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine up front, a seven-speed automatic in the middle, and a limited-slip differential putting power to the rear tires. In the standard C63, the engine makes 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, sending the droptop to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Upgrade to the C63 S and those figures become 503 hp, 516 lb-ft, 4.0 seconds, and 186 mph.

Besides the engine, the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet also scores an upgraded chassis, with wider front and rear tracks beneath flared fenders, unique suspension components, three-mode adaptive dampers, and 18- or 19-inch wheels, depending on model. The C63 comes with a mechanical limited-slip diff while the S gets an electronically controlled unit that is said to provide “even more sensitive and faster control.” The S also receives dynamic engine mounts that can soften during cruising to improve comfort, or stiffen during aggressive driving for more precision.
With all that power on tap, serious brakes are needed to haul the C63 Cabriolet back down to a stop. C63 models get 14.2-inch front discs and the S models get 15.4-inch front discs; an optional carbon-ceramic setup has 15.8-inch front stoppers, which also have half the unsprung weight of the standard brakes. Options include an AMG Performance two-mode exhaust, carbon-fiber exterior trim pieces, a head-up display, and a safety package that includes features like pre-collision braking and lane-keep assist.

To help launch the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet, there will also be an Edition 1 version painted in Cashmere White Magno, with the rear lip spoiler and exhaust tips finish in gloss-black. Inside, the Edition 1 treatment entails Nappa leather seats with brown/black design and gray stitching, as well as a flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in black Nappa leather.
Within the C Cabrio lineup, the C63 fits above the base 241-hp C300 and the 362-hp AMG C43. Based on how much you’ll pay for other versions of the C63, the Cabriolet won’t come cheap. Expect a sticker somewhere close to $70,000 when the car hits U.S. dealers this fall.